How to Become an Approved Clinical Supervisor in North Dakota as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)

Becoming an approved clinical supervisor is a powerful way to shape the next generation of therapists while also advancing your own career. If you’re a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in North Dakota and ready to take this step, it’s essential to understand the North Dakota clinical supervisor requirements—and to avoid pitfalls that can prevent supervision hours from counting.

This article explains the North Dakota supervision training requirements for MFTs, outlines the renewal process, and shows how to stay compliant as a clinical supervisor.

👥 Supervisor Eligibility Requirements

According to North Dakota Administrative Code, Chapter 111-02-02-04 (Requirements for Supervisor):

To be recognized as a board-approved clinical supervisor, you must submit an application accompanied by:

• A graduate degree — in Marriage and Family Therapy, or a related field such as counseling and guidance, psychology, psychiatry, or clinical social work, from a recognized educational institution.

• A full license — either a non-provisional, non-associate license issued by North Dakota, or a comparable Marriage and Family Therapist license from another jurisdiction.

• One of the following:

  • Completion of a one-semester graduate course in MFT supervision from an accredited institution; or

  • A 30-hour continuing education course in clinical supervision.

• Practice experience — a minimum of 3,000 hours of direct client contact in marriage and family therapy, accrued over at least three years as a licensed MFT.

Alternatively, you may qualify if you were designated by AAMFT as an approved supervisor or supervisor-in-training prior to providing any supervision.

Restrictions:

• You may not supervise someone if you are employed by them.

• You may not be related to them within the second degree by marriage (affinity) or third degree by blood (consanguinity).

📜Source: North Dakota Administrative Code § 111-02-02 – Preliminary Licensing Requirements, incl. § 111-02-02-04 (Requirements for Supervisor).

🔄 Ongoing / Renewal CE Requirements

To maintain your license and supervisor status in North Dakota, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) must meet the following continuing education (CE) requirements, as outlined in NDAC § 111-02-01-06:

LMFTs:

• Must complete at least 30 CE hours every two years, including:

  • 6 hours in ethics

  • No more than 15 hours may be completed through self-study or home study formats that include an independently graded component.

Board-approved or AAMFT-approved supervisors:

• Must dedicate 10% of their total CE hours (3 hours) specifically to supervision-related coursework.

📜 Source: North Dakota Administrative Code § 111-02-01 – General Provisions, including § 111-02-01-06 (Continuing Education).

⚠️ Pitfalls to Avoid

Be mindful of these frequent oversights:

• Inadequate documentation—supervision must be logged accurately, including hours, methods, content, and supervisor credentials.

• Supervisor not meeting credential requirements at time of supervision—if CE or coursework for supervisory eligibility wasn't completed before the supervision period, hours may be invalid.

📘How the Telehealth Certification Institute Helps You Meet Supervision CE Requirements

North Dakota Administrative Code § 111-02-01-06.4 states:
“A course may not be counted toward a licensee's continuing education requirements unless it has been approved by the board according to the procedures in this subsection and subsections 5 to 10.”

Because CE must be formally approved by the North Dakota Board to count toward licensure renewal, licensees are responsible for verifying whether a specific course has been approved before applying CE credit toward supervisor designation or renewal requirements. TCI courses have not been pre-approved.

TCI provides continuing education courses for professional development purposes. TCI does not offer graduate-level academic credit. North Dakota licensees should confirm Board approval prior to applying CE hours toward licensure or supervisor designation requirements.

🧠 Recommended Courses:

• Clinical Supervision Certificate Program
  The Clinical Supervision Certificate (CSC) Program includes 49 CE hours and covers core supervision competencies, ethics in supervision, documentation, gatekeeping, and best practices.
  This program is designed to support clinicians seeking advanced supervision training.

• Individual Clinical Supervision CE Courses
  If you’re looking for training on a specific supervision topic, you can browse our catalog of individual supervision CE courses and select the courses that best meet your professional needs.

🤝 Free Clinical Supervision Forum

Join our interactive, bi-monthly forum created specifically for clinical supervisors—open to all behavioral health professionals!

• ✅ Earn free live CE hours
• 💬 Participate in real-world supervision case discussions
• 🌐 Network with supervisors across the country

🔗 Register now and be part of the conversation!

Why Choose TCI for Your Training?

• ✅ Trusted by thousands of behavioral health professionals nationwide
• ✅ Fully online and self-paced — learn anytime, anywhere
• ✅ Accredited CE courses taught by leading industry experts
• ✅ Flexible, modular learning — pay only for what you need

⚠️ Disclaimer

“The information provided in this article is for general educational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. Licensing and supervision requirements may change, and interpretations may vary. It is the responsibility of each individual to verify the current rules and qualifications directly with their state licensing authority.”

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